On our first wedding anniversary, Jayden gave me the address of a private room.
Excited, I put on a new dress and went to celebrate our anniversary.
However, just as I was about to enter the room, I overheard Jayden chatting with friends.
"Isn't today your wedding anniversary with your wife? How dare you leave her behind to attend Rosalind's homecoming party?"
Jayden swirled his wine and laughed nonchalantly, "Why should I be afraid? I even invited her to join us. Who cares about a mere anniversary when Rosalind’s coming bcak?"
Jayden's other friends joined in with loud cheers:
"Oh, Jayden, you really know how to manage your wife!"
"Hey, I thought you’d be too busy with your wife to bother with Rosalind."
Jayden gave him a sideways glance and slowly swallowed his wine. "Marrying her was just an impulsive act. What does she have compared to Rosalind?"
"Your pursuit of her didn’t seem like mere impulse. Don’t let alcohol make you speak nonsense."
Jayden coldly looked at the speaker and replied flatly, "It was all just an act. Who knew she’d fall for me so deeply and insist on marrying me?"
"Hahaha, that’s true. Our Jayden is such a good guy---When the girl proposed, he just said yes."
...
I stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.
That night, I stood outside the door, choosing to go home instead of entering.
Back home, my silent phone constantly reminded me.
It was time for a divorce.
Jayden didn’t come back all night.
I learned about his whereabouts from a trending Twitter topic.
【Shock! Young pianist Rosalind spotted spending the night at a hotel with a mysterious man, full of passion!”】
I clicked on it and read a lengthy exposé, complete with a blurry photo of a couple embracing.
In the photo, a handsome man tightly held a woman with a curvaceous figure, radiating possessiveness. They were oblivious to the paparazzi, embracing face-to-face, laughing intimately, and with no regard for the world.
I scrolled through the comments, filled with praise for the couple’s beauty. I thought I could stay calm, but my vision grew blurry.
I stood there for a long time until my phone vibrated, displaying a number I knew too well. It was Jayden calling.
With a flicker of hope, I answered.
I wanted to ask if the news was true. But before I could even call “Jayden,” Rosalind’s sweet, innocent voice came through.
“Elena, don’t believe the gossip. I was drunk last night. Jay only took care of me at the hotel. We didn’t share a bed. You’re so understanding; I’m sure you don’t mind…”
Before she could finish, Jayden’s indifferent voice cut in.
“What’s there to explain? Your words are unnecessary.”
Rosalind seemed to forget I was on the line, and she began arguing with him.
“I’m a girl, and I understand girls’ feelings. What if Elena gets jealous? Even though we spent the night in the same room innocently, as your good friend, I need to explain to her.”
“Ugh, women are just trouble.”
“Jayden, who are you calling troublesome? Say that again!”
…
I listened to their playful banter on the phone with a blank expression. The frustration inside me couldn’t be swallowed or expressed. I tried to hold it in, but eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore.
I heaved violently.
Having skipped breakfast, all I vomited was acid.
But this vomit made the “couple” on the other end finally remember me. Jayden stopped his flirtation with Rosalind.
His anxious voice came through the phone line.
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Hearing his voice made me nauseous again, and I vomited once more.
Jayden’s voice grew more frantic.
“Are you sick? Wait for me. I’ll come home and take you to the hospital.”
I covered my mouth, trying to say it wasn’t necessary, but my stomach rebelled again, and I vomited.
As I wiped my mouth with a tissue, the call had already ended.
Since I had decided on divorce, it was better to have less entanglement.
I sent him a message saying, “No need.”
This time, his reply was quick.
“I’ll be home in 20 minutes.”
I stared at those words on the screen, silent for a long time.
How could Jayden flirt with another woman one moment and then rush to care for his wife the next?
I couldn’t understand.
Leaning against the wall, my mind replayed the past with Jayden.
